Biden urges unity, slams ‘divider’ Trump at first major rally

Democrat Joe Biden aimed his frontrunner campaign directly at Donald Trump on Saturday, attacking him as the “divider in chief” and insisting the nation’s top priority is denying the US president re-election in 2020.

The former vice president kicked off his White House bid with an impassioned call for fairness and equality in the country, urging voters to end the mean-spirited pettiness and partisan squabbles that have left Americans angry and dispirited in recent years.

“This nation needs to come together,” the veteran politician told a crowd estimated at 6,000 in Philadelphia, in the largest rally of his nascent campaign.

“Our president is the divider in chief,” he added, accusing Trump of demonizing opponents and using scapegoats to fuel  animosity.

“If the American people want a president to add to our division, to lead with a clenched fist, closed hand and a hard heart, to demonize opponents and spew hatred, they don’t need me,” Biden said in a raised voice. “They’ve got President Donald Trump.”